Adapter plate for applying pressure to forks for shearing machines



y 1936-, F. G. .BRlsToW 2,042,295 A ADAPTER PLATE FOR- APPLYING PRESSURE TO FORKS SHEARING MACHINES Filed July 12, 1955 ZSheets-Sheet 1 Q &4

May 26, 1936. F. saws-row ADAPTER PLATE FOR APPLYING PRESSURE -TO FORKS FOR SHEARING MACHINES Filed July 12, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 26, 1936 PATENT OFFICE ADAPTER PLATE FOR APPLYING PRESSURE TO FORKS FOR SHEARING MACHINES FrancissG. Bristow, Sydney, New South Wales,

Australia Application July 12, 1935, Serial No. 31,136 In Australia January 24, 1935 5 Claims.

The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved construction of sheep shear for avoiding a defect in previous commercial types of such shears, which defect consists in the tendency of the wool, when it is quite heavy or coarse, to re sist the shearing action of the cooperating comb and cutter teeth, and to crowd the cutter off from the comb, thus making a more or less extended contact along the opposed faces of the comb and cutter, but preventing proper shearing engagement of these parts with each other,with the result that the stubble left by the shearing is very undesirably variant in length.

The invention consists in the elements and features of the construction shown and described as indicated in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fore-and-aft sectional view of a sheep shear embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same with the cover plate removed.

Figure 3 is a plan view of a pressure-applying plate which constitutes a feature of the invention,

the same being illustrated in operative relation to the cutter-blade-vibrating fork, which is shown in dotted lines. v

Figure 4 is an edge elevation of the parts shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing correspondingly modified forms of the pressure plate and blade.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4, of the form shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing a second modification.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figures 4 and 6, of the modification shown in Figure '7.

Figure 9 is a detail forward elevation showing a modified form of means of engagement of the vibrating cutter blade by the pressure-applying plate.

Figure 10 is a detail' side elevation of the parts shown in Figure 9.

Referring to the drawings in detail:

In Figures 1 and 2 there may be seen a customary form of sheep shear having a handle indicated at A, for carrying at its forward end the shearing cutters including the fixed-cutter-comb, M, and the vibrating cutter blade, N, the said handle carrying pivoted thereon the operating lever, F, which at its forward end engages the vibrating cutter blade, N, and at its rear end has the vertical cam slot, f for engagement by a roller, p on the crank wrist, p of the'operating head, P of the driving shaft, P. For engaging the vibrating blade, N, the lever, F, is furnished at its under side with a terminal plate, F having pin teeth, F, for engaging the pin holes in the vibrating cutter blade, N, as seen in Figures 1 and 2.

The handle element, A, carries also a pressureapplying plate, B, for holding the vibrating cutter blade pressed firmly onto the fixed cutter and comb while it is vibrated by the lever; and a tension pin, L, extending between an adjustable stop, A mounted in an upwardly extending arch or limb, A of the handle, A, and pivot seat provided in the pressure-applying plate, B, as seen at G.

In the form shown in Figures 1 to 4, the pressure-applying plate, seen at B, is spaced slightly up from the forked cutter-blade-vibrating lever, F, at front and rear ends,at the front end by the downwardly curved forward end terminals, D, which rest upon the corrrespondingly formed terminals of the forked lever, the latter having slight upwardly projecting bosses, shown at E, for stopping any forward thrust of the pressure plate on the lever, and thereby on the cutter blade, and at the rear end by a screw, C, set in the pressure plate and protruding through it into encounter with the lever, F, at a point indicated at f The pressure is applied to the pressure plate by the familiar tension pin L, set in the customary tension cup, G, which, it may be understood, is carried by the customary arch A rigid with the base which carries also the comb M with whose combining-and-cutting teeth the teeth of the cutter blade co-operate for shearing.

In the form shown in Figures 5 and 6 the pressure plate B has the down-turned terminal, D ending in a V-shape, and the cooperating forks of the cutter-vibrating lever, instead of the upstanding bosses, E, have each a V-shaped slot, E In this form the rear end of the pressure plate is stepped on and spaced upwardly from the cutter vibrating lever, by short pins, C in lieu of the screw, C, of the first form. The tension cup, G, in this form is in the same relation to the front and rear end spacing features, D and C as in the first form; hence,--equally as in the first form,the tension applied by the tension pin when set in the cup, applies the pressure to the cutter-vibrating lever only at the bearing on the latter of the features, D and C and no bending or flexing of the lever or of either of the forks can occur.

In some makes of sheep shears the lodgement of the rear side of the vibrating cutter is over a center post upstanding from the base of the shell of the shear, and in that type of shear the cuttervibrating lever is relieved of the pressure from the rear end of the pressure plate.

In the form shown in Figures 7 and 8, the cutter-vibrating lever F is of the form commonly called chicken foot, having four prongs or toes for engaging the cutter. In this form the pressure plate B is supported at both ends in the same manner as in the preceding forms, with the V-shaped front D of the pressure plate rest- 10 ing on the prongs. At the engagement of the prongs with the forked lever they may be slightly flattened instead of being recessed for their contact with the V-shaped end B of the pressure 7 plate B which then merelyrestsupon them in- 1 5 stead of having the edge inserted in the slot.

As a modification of this form there may be provided-to be mounted, if-Hsiredjbn the front end, D of the pressure p1ate,one or'rnor'e movable plates, K, seen in front elevation in ,Figure 9, and in edge view in Figure 10. These plates are mounted, as stated, by "means of apin, n, rigid with the plates respectively, and constituting pivots for the plates, the pins being inserted in holes'in the'part,'D and secured by lock pins 0 set through'the pins, n,--behind the part, D The plates, K, extending down slightly below the lower edge'of the part, D of the pressure plate, B 'engage' the prongs of theputter-Vibrating' lever F by means of "pin teeth, "H, near the point" at 'which'they'press upon the cutter blade. -In this type the plate,'B, ismade of any suitable length "so that the leverage desired may be obtained by virtue of the dimensions.

The plates, K, turning about the 'axes of the pivot pins respectively, will conform to any unevenness of the prongs-"iesting "on the cutter blade, such unevenness sometimes resulting from inaccuracy in grinding the cutters and-so preventing the prongs from 5 alwaysseating in a iOfl-straightline. By thisrneans of adapting this type of pressure plate for cooperationwith'a cutter-operating lever of the four-prong type;-greater resistance of the wool (which must be overcome to obtain even-shearing) is overcome with less pressure on the tension pin. Since each fork of the lever has two prongs, and-acts-by these prongs on the cutter at two points in its length,

it is necessary for the proper functioning of such ter, a pressure-transmitting plate overlying the lever and having projections from its under side bearing on the lever at points proximate the for- ;,ward end and the fulcrum of the lever and spacing the plate over the lever intermediate said points of bearing, and means for applying pressure-to'the pressure-transmitting plate at a point in its length intermediate said projections.

-2. The construction defined in claim 1, the

lever being forked, with prongs spaced apart in the path of vibratory movement ofthefork arms,

' the pressure-transmitting" plate having its front end comprising parts extending transverselyfor overhanging the spaced-apart prongs of the-lever fork arms. 7 g

3. The --construction defined in claim -1, the

lever "being formed'at the forward'endon the upper side for stopping-thepressure-transmitting plate in forwardly endwise-movement =With'relation to the lever. g, g

4. The construction defined in claim 1, the

pressure-transmitting plate-having the forwardend projection V-shaped for engagingthe lever, and the-lever having in its upper surface atthe forward end a V-shaped groove for receivingt-he V-shaped projection of the-pressureplate.

5. The construction defined' infclaim 1, --the cutter-vibrating lever being'forked with -pr'ongs spaced apart in the path-ofvibration of th lever,

and the pressure-transmitting plate havingthe" projections at the forwardendforbearingon the lever formed-with the-bearing edge continuous and uninterrupted for a length overhanging all the prongs of the lever fork-arms.

FRANCISS GnBRISTO W. 

